CONTAINER GARDENING

Other than that both people with land space and who don’t have space can grow in container. For people with land space it provides more space to grow and for people with no land space it gives an opportunity to grow.

Despite this you can grow almost everything in a container. Some essentials in container gardening are

Location

Watering

Beat containers

Drainage

Filling

Location

Most of the vegetables require good sunlight. So choose a location that receives 5-6 hours of bright sunlight. South or west facing locations are the best. Place them close to your house to reach out. Usage of window ledges and balconies is a great way to start up if you don’t have enough space. But make sure the pots are properly secured form blowing off during windy climate.

Watering

It is the Number one priority for container plants as they do not have access to constant supply of water. It is good to water them twice in a hot day to prevent them from drying within hours. They may be damaged so much that you do not just wet the surface but allow it to soak down to roots. For convenience trip irrigation can be used, this comes in handy when you are away in summer.

Choosing the best containers

Containers come in all shapes, sizes colors and materials. Plastic and wood are tried and tested materials. But you can unleash your creativity. Just make sure that the container you use are clean and does not release any chemical in long time. Large pots can also be used to grow some plants that are native in your area.

Dwarf varieties of trees can also be grown in large containers to get fresh supply. There are plenty of options available to use vertical space too. If you are creating a vertical garden along your wall, remember they release heat but also they keep the plants warm at night

Drainage

It is very essential to provide good drainage. Plats get killed if their roots are water logged. Make sure there are adequate drainage holes and they are free from dirt or blockages. Adding a shallow layer of broken pottery or stones to the base of the pot often helps to improve drainage. The aim is to cover the drainage holes do that the soil does not leak out while still providing gaps to excess water to drain through.

Filling

Fill the pot with potting soil or your home made compost. Don’t use soil from the garden as they are usually heavy and may contain weeds and soil born pests. Using a moisture retentive and light weight mix is the best for containers. It will need topping up each season to replenish nutrients which have been used up.